A Life

Main Characters and Their Development

• Jeanne Le Perthuis des Vauds, a young innocent girl who becomes a victim of her illusions and dreams. As the plot unfolds, her life becomes filled with disappointments due to an unhappy marriage and financial difficulties, leading to her moral and physical exhaustion.
• Julien de Lamare, Jeanne's husband, is portrayed as an unscrupulous and money-hungry man. His infidelities and inability to manage the family finances push his family to the brink of ruin.
• Baron Simon-Jacques Le Perthuis des Vauds, Jeanne's father, is depicted as a loving and caring father who tries to support his daughter through all her troubles.
• Baroness Adelaide Le Perthuis des Vauds, Jeanne's mother, also cares for her daughter, but her character does not change as significantly as the others.